Part 10: Charles Silver At Wyndemere
Charles smiled.
Charles: What are you doing here? That's all you have to say to your old friend…
let me rephrase that, your *young* friend whom you haven't seen in years?
Stefan: Forgive me for my rudeness, I just haven't been expecting you. You have
not kept in touch for quite a while, as a matter of fact.
Charles: You could have picked up the phone too, you know. But, let us forget
that now… why do you look like that? You look like you just walked out of a
burning building.
Stefan had to smile at that… How often did someone make a statement like that
and be right on?
Stefan: As a matter of fact, I did just walk out of a burning building.
His smile faded.
Stefan: There was a bombing at the hospital and I was stuck inside. The building
started on fire and we had to make out escape… it's a long story.
Charles: Well, I'm starved… could you tell me this story over a meal?
Stefan: Very well.
Charles: Good. *They both head to dining room* Will your nephew and Lex be
joining us this evening?
Stefan stopped and looked at Charles.
Stefan: You have truly been out of touch too long…
*^*
Lark entered the Scanlon house carrying two large paper sacs. Julie and Frank
were sitting on the couch and Chris and Eve were talking to Karen. Eve saw Lark
struggling with them and pressing her back against the door to close it.
Eve: Lark, need help?
Lark: Yes, definitely.
Eve took a sac and they sat them down on the coffee table (I'm not sure if there
actually is one in the living room… but if there isn't, there is now!).
Frank: What is that?
Lark: Well, I saw that there wasn't much in the fridge so I went to the
Recovering Room to get a meal for dinner.
Frank: Thank you.
Julie: *a bit sarcastic* Yes, thanks Lark.
Lark rolled her eyes as she stared unpacking the sacks and handing everyone
something to eat. She offers Karen a sandwich.
Karen: No thanks, I'm not hungry.
Chris: Come on, Karen, you gotta eat.
Karen: Look, I'm just not very hungry.
Lark: All right… Karen, I'm really sorry about Joe.
Karen: Thanks.
Julie listened and shrugged. She looked at Frank.
Julie: That girl is some piece of work. Your brother is dead and all she can do
is worm her way around here…
Frank: Julie… not now. For the love of God, don't even bother right now. I just
lost my brother today in a bombing, so if you even start attacking Lark…
Julie: I don't attack Lark, I just see her for what she is.
Frank looks at her and can't believe it.
Frank: I think maybe I'm starting to see you for exactly what you are.
Julie: Exactly what is that supposed to mean?
Frank: Nothing, just forget I said anything.
Julie kept silent, in fear that if she pushed him too far, she might lose him.
Lark: Julie, could you help me put the bags in the kitchen?
Julie: Sure, why not!
They went into the kitchen and set the bags down on the table.
Julie: All right, they're here, so I'll go back in the other room.
Lark: Wait… Julie, I wanted to ask you something.
Julie: *hostile* What is it, Lark?
Lark: Let's… call… let's just call a truce for a little while, okay. Frank has
enough to deal with without the two of us at each other's throats.
Julie: And who's fault is that?
Lark: All right, look, when I first came here, I was a brat, I know, I did
things, bad things, but I've changed and I've apologized.
Julie: Oh, yeah, you've apologized… well, gee wiz, Lark, sorry just isn't good
enough, especially considering you haven't changed a bit.
Lark: What is with you!? I haven't done anything wrong… well, lately… and yet
I'm still getting all these attacks from you.
Julie: Oh, poor little Lark, you know, you are a great performer, I should give
a hand for you.
Lark: Julie, you are… *calms down* All right, fine, you don't want a truce, but
if you want to argue, you can do it by yourself. *Starts walking away* I'm sorry
I tried to call a truce. *Turns around and to face Julie* I just thought you
cared enough about Frank, but obviously not!
Lark starts to head back to the living room, but Julie grabs her and spins her
around.
Julie: No, you can't just walk away from me.
Lark: Boo hoo, Princess Julie… watch me walk away.
Julie grabs hold of her arm.
Lark: Let go of me!
Julie: No way, you little tramp! You should really learn to respect your
authorities. Now, I live in this house, I have to put up with you, I am above
age, so I am an authority.
Lark: *looks Julie in the eye* I told you to let go of me!
Julie: No… you know, you are such a brat… it's no wonder your mother had to slap
you.
Lark stopped struggling, standing still. She was shocked to hear that come out
of Julie's mouth. She knew Julie was a bitch, but she didn't think she could be
so cruel.
Lark: You bitch…
Frank: Julie?
Julie and Lark looked at Frank. Lark took this opportunity to get her arm free
from Julie.
Julie: Frank… I, uh…
Frank: *cold* Get out.
*^*
Charles and Stefan were eating dinner. Stefan had taken a shower and changed
first, of course, and has had the time to tell Charles everything that has
happened… well, a few details here and there may have been left out.
Charles: My, my… Lexi, what have you done? How is she now?
Stefan: Well, I met her outside the hospital, we talked a little and I left. She
was apparently stuck in an elevator because of the bomb and had spent an hour or
so in there, but she's all right now.
Charles: How about the old witch, how have you taken care of her? Or haven't
you, yet?
Stefan: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
Charles: Stefan, it's so cold right now, it's almost not even worth eating, and
she's reheated it for you plenty of times.
Stefan: Interesting way to put it.
Charles: You know, seriously, Stefan, you should have let me kill her when I had
the chance.
Stefan: At the time you suggested… even now, it just did not seem right.
Charles: Stefan, she had poisoned you. She's done a lot worse before that, after
that, and now she hurt you’re… she hurt Nikolas. You should just let me finish
the job.
Stefan: Charles, you are always too quick…
Charles: Are you forgetting, Stefan? This is the woman who killed my mother and
had an affair with my father? The only thing holding me back is you.
Stefan: Charles, death is a far too easy and painless revenge.
Charles smiled.
Charles: True… So what else do you have in mind?
Stefan: Her weakest point is my nephew, Xavior.
Charles: All right, so how do you plan to use it to your advantage.
Stefan: First things first… now, let me say… what judge in their right mind in
the entire world do you think would award custody to my mother after I tell them
a story about a childhood like mine.
Charles starts laughing.
Stefan: Not to mention fraud of Nikolas' identity and Alexis' daughter's
kidnapping.
Charles: You're going to sue for custody of Xavior!
Stefan: Yes, that is my plan.
Charles: I love it!… *stops laughing*… Stefan, Helena is an extremely
influential woman, how do you know she won't find a way out of this.
Stefan: I know she'll try, but I think I can get the upper hand this time. After
all, I was able to keep custody of Nikolas for all this time.
Charles: The thing is, Stefan, she didn't need Nikolas.
Stefan realized he was right.
Stefan: I will still go through with it. I need something to hold over her head.
Charles: Well, if you ever need my help, you know I'll help a hand.
Stefan: That I do.
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